Chief Justice John Roberts issued the temporary order on Monday, without explaining his reasoning.
Rebecca Slaughter, who has been challenging her firing since March and was recently reinstated after a federal appellate court ruled in her favor, will be out of work until the Supreme Court rules on the Trump administration’s emergency request.
Roberts’ order stated that Slaughter must respond to Trump’s application by September 15.
The Trump administration is requesting that the Supreme Court overturn Humphrey’s Executor v. U.S., a landmark decision that allowed Congress to establish independent agencies while limiting the president’s ability to remove officials from them.
Trump appointed Slaughter in 2018, and she was reappointed by former President Joe Biden in 2024, beginning a term that will end in 2029.
Forbes has contacted the FTC for comment.
